Anyone have any experience with rear ends? I'm looking to get a 3.73 Limited slip rear end from a 2wd Ranger Edge 2003 and I want to know what all needs to be done to ''bolt-on'' this hunk of metal? Also has anyone ever converted a newer Ranger from 2WD to 4WD? I was at the salvage yard this past Saturday and looked at a 2004 Ranger Edge (same one I'm grabbing the rear end from) and wondered how hard it would be to do that. But at the moment I'm more interested in the axle swap

Alright, awesome. I was just wanting to make sure. I put the stock tires and rim's on last weekend to get a good idea of the swap. I plan on doing it sometime in a couple weeks. But I would be curious as to how much trouble it would be to convert my 2WD to either a 4x4, or a AWD say using a Explorers transfercase. Thanks for the advice, I'm surprised noones chimed in saying I should do it this way or that.

I've been told you may or may not need to swap the plate from one axle to the other for the drive shaft to mate up properly.

Concerning the 4X4 conversion, what kind of suspension do you have in the front? If it is torsion bars, you might have a prayer. If it's coil springs, you can do it but you will have more work and will need to do a solid axle swap. Also, the frame will be different, so there will be some work to mount the transfer case and so on. The torsion bar frame might have all the holes and braces you need in place already.

Really? I knwew that getting new u bolts was going to be a have to do thing but I didn't think the axles were any different from eachother and the driveshaft would be the same...I have to get new u joints sometime in the near future anyways so I may do the swap at the same time. And for the suspension its coil springs up front . With that being said you all believe I would have to modify the front end?

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Oh and correction I didn't knnow I put one as a 2003 and one as a 2004 its supposed to be 2003 for both. I posted that through my phone so I didn't realize that mistake until just now. Also what would it take to bolt a hood from said ranger to my 2001? I really liked the bulge in the hood and its the same color but I didn't know if they would go together well

[QUOTE=toyoracing;330141]Really? I knwew that getting new u bolts was going to be a have to do thing but I didn't think the axles were any different from eachother and the driveshaft would be the same...I have to get new u joints sometime in the near future anyways so I may do the swap at the same time. And for the suspension its coil springs up front . With that being said you all believe I would have to modify the front end?

The flange transfer was only mentioned as a possibility, not a definite. Just something to keep in mind.

With the suspension being coil springs, there is no where for the axle shafts to go, let alone the proper mounting points for an axle, transfer case and so on. So, the cheapest and easiest option would be an solid axle swap. Not that would be all that cheap. A lot of modifications would need to be done. Getting a truck with four wheel drive in it already would probably be cheaper and a lot easier.

I took measurements today and so far it's not looking like I'm going to ''need'' anything. Everything seems to be the same so it'll be a simple swap out and swap on. Anyone think it's a good idea to go 3.73 Limited slip?

It would help out in the snow. Just make sure if you change out the fluid that you make sure to put the additive in for the clutches in the limited slip or you will burn them out. I forget the exact amount, something like a couple of ounces.

Awesome...I had 3.73's with a limited slip on my '02 F150 and I loved the gearing as well as the limited slip. After dang near making my right rear tire go bald from spinning it in snow and ice so much this winter I made it a point to get a limited slip in it so I not only not get stuck (worst occasion was when I was going up a slightly inclined hill at work and my right rear tire lost traction and I couldn't go forward, or backwards...and it was only a light dusting of snow) and also leave TWO purdy little black marks wherever I should chrissen the pavement